Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $36,511 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Overland Park
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($361,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $849/mo less ($1,378 vs $2,227)
28% less violent crime than Arlington
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $36,511/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$36,511
$137,387 vs $100,876/yr
Overland Park
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Violent Crime
28% lower
184.4 vs 254.4 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$472k less
$361,800 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $100,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 62.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Overland Park wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $361,800 median home), income ($137,387 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Overland Park, KS are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.